ABU DHABI, May 12: A single-digit car registration plate was auctioned off for more than $6.8 million in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, beating the previous world record by more than 10 times.

The number plate “5” was bought for 25.2 million dirhams ($6.86 million) in Abu Dhabi, WAM state news agency reported.

It said businessman Talal Khouri placed the highest bid in the first auction of its kind in the UAE, with the proceeds going to charitable projects for people with special needs.

The price beat a previous world record set last July in Yorkshire, northern England, where the number plate “M1” was knocked down for 331,500 pounds or 657,160 dollars at current exchange rates.—AFP